Roadside marker extension

ABSTRACT

An extension member for roadside marker stakes is formed of an elongated strip of material with flanges bent over at either edge to form longitudinally extending grooves for receiving the transversely projecting flanges of the stakes. The extension member is slid telescopically down over the end of the stake and the extension is secured to the stake by a bolt through holes through the stake and member.

United Mates Patet 1151 3,636,913

GBrien 14 1 Jan. 25, 1972 [54] RUADSHDE MARKER EXTENSION 2,336,802 12/1943 Posner ..287/58 R 2,534,410 12/1950 Brickman v t 1 1 ..256/47 [72] Inventor: Peter Glavey OBrten, 166 Parkside Ave., 2,950,787 8/1960 Walsh 40/145 R Syracuse, 13207 3,527,508 9/1970 Monaco ..308/3.6 [22] Filed: July 2, 1970 3,529,798 9/1970 Williams et al. ..248/l25 x [2 PP 52,012 Primary Examiner-Andrew V. Kundrat Att0rr1ey-Bruns and Jenney [52] U.S.Cl ..116/114R, 287/58 CT, 94/15 51 110.01. ..0091 7/18 ABSTRACT Field Of Search ..287/58 CT, 58 R; 2 /2 2 An extension member for roadside marker stakes is formed of 24 /1 1, 5; 2 6/47, 48; 2/ 2; 40/145 an elongated strip of material with flanges bent over at either 11 /1 4 edge to form longitudinally extending grooves for receiving the transversely projecting flanges of the stakes. The extension References Cited member is slid telescopically down over the end of the stake UNITED STATES PATENTS and the extension is secured to the stake by a bolt through holes through the stake and member. 7 2 l. 7 2,2 7,705 3/194 Kennedy et a 28 [58 R l ClaimsA Drawing Figures PATENTEU JAN 2 5 I972 INVENTOR. OBRIEN BY 8W MM PETER GLAVE Y ATTORNEYS ROADSIDE MARKER EXTENSION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to roadside markers and in particular to an extension fitting telescopically over the end of the marker for indicating the position of the marker during periods of deep snow.

Roadside markers carrying reflectors or indicia of some kind are commonly used along high-speed roads and usually comprise stakes driven into the ground along the side of the road. Almost universally the stakes comprise steel strips with transversely projecting side flanges joined by an offset channel portion for rigidity.

During periods of deep snow it has been the practice to bind long poles, usually cut and trimmed saplings, to the markers so the snowplows can see the position of the markers and avoid striking them and bending them over. Collecting, trimming, and transporting the poles requires considerable work time on the part of the road crews and, consequently, a large expense to the highway department.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention contemplates forming extensions which will fit telescopically over the ends of the marker stakes and be secured thereto for projecting upward and indicating the position of the stakes during the winter season. The extensions can be economically made, as by extruding strips of indefinite length of synthetic plastic material, preferably of a bright color, such as red or orange. The strips are then cut to the desired length and are quickly secured to the markers as by a bolt through appropriate holes in the extensions and marker stakes. The extensions can be removed during the summer months like the sapling poles presently used, or can be telescopically lowered on the marker stakes and secured in place again in lowered position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the upper end of a marker stake with attached reflector indicated in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the stake of FIG. 1 and an attached extension according to the invention, shown in section, a reflector and its securing means being indicated in broken lines;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the extension shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIGS. 1 and 2 a marker 10, such as is presently in use, is shown as a stake 11 adapted to be driven into the ground and having a conventional reflector 12, shown in broken lines, secured thereto by bolt 13 and nut 14 with suitable lockwasher 15. The stake 11 has aligned, spaced, transversely projecting, flanges 16 at either side connected by a U-shaped, forwardly offset, channel portion 17 to provide rigidity. The channel portion is usually provided with a plurality of centrally located, spaced holes 18 along its forward portion, as shown, so that the bolt 13 of the reflector or securing means for other marker attachment may pass therethrough for securing it to the stake 11.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 the extension 20 of the invention comprises a strip of substantially rigid material, .such as an appropriate synthetic plastic material, having inwardly turned flanges 21 at either side forming, with the connecting flat portion 22 thereof, slots 23 at either side into which the flanges 16 of the stake ll of the marker may be telescopically slid. Preferably the flanges 21 are turned inwardly a full so that a full sliding fit with the flanges 16 is obtained.

This shape is adapted for forming the extension 20 by extrusion, the extruded strip being of indefinite length which may be cut into any desired length extensions for extending upward of the stake to any desired height determined by the expected de th of snow in each particular region.

ach extension 20 IS provided with one or more holes 24 at the center thereof of substantially the same diameter as the holes 18 in the stake. A plurality of holes may be provided to lower wind resistance. The cross-sectional shape of extension 20 is adapted to bring holes 18 and 24 into alignment when the extension is slid telescopically over the end of a stake 11. A bolt 25, provided with suitable lockwashers 26, if desired, is then run through a pair of aligned holes 24 and 18 secured by a nut 27, as shown in FIG. 2. Since the reflector 12, or sign, or other attachment for the marker 10 is always secured to the front of the marker, the extension 20 is free to be fitted telescopically over the end of the marker stake II at the back.

Stake I1 is usually provided with a plurality of holes 18 so that the extension may be adjusted upward or downward, as desired. After the season of snow, the extension may be removed, to be stored for installation the next winter, by simply removing bolt 25 and nut 27. Alternatively, the nut and bolt may be removed, the extension telescopically slid downward to the ground, and secured again in lowered position by the same nut and bolt.

I claim:

1. In combination with a roadside marker stake driven into the ground having aligned, transversely projecting, spaced flanges at each side, connected by a channel shaped portion projecting forward of the flanges, the channel portion having a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes centrally located thru the bottom of said channel; a roadside marker secured to the outside of the bottom of the channel by a bolt projecting thru one of said holes in the bottom of said channel and into but not beyond the open end of the channel; an extension, member formed of an elongated, substantially flat strip of brightly colored synthetic plastic material having inwardly turned flanges at each side, the flanges forming, with the flat portion of the strip, parallel slots into which the flanges of the marker stake are telescopically and loosely slid, the extension member having a plurality of centrally located holes therethrough longitudinally spaced therealong and alignable with the stake holes and being substantially the length of the above ground portion of the marker stake, and at least one bolt through aligned holes in the stake and extension secured in place, whereby the bolt may be removed and the extension member may be slide telescopically along the marker stake and again secured in position projecting upward of the marker stake by the bolt for indicating the position of the marker stake during times of deep snow and free of said marker secured to the channel portion of the stake and said bolt projecting into the channel, or said extension may be telescopically slid downward to the ground and secured for in situ storage and protection along the stake. 

1. In combination with a roadside marker stake driven into the ground having aligned, transversely projecting, spaced flanges at each side, connected by a channel shaped portion projecting forward of the flanges, the channel portion having a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes centrally located thru the bottom of said channel; a roadside marker secured to the outside of the bottom of the channel by a bolt projecting thru one of said holes in the bottom of said channel and into but not beyond the open end of the channel; an extension member formed of an elongated, substantially flat strip of brightly colored synthetic plastic material having inwardly turned flanges at each side, the flanges forming, with the flat portion of the strip, parallel slots into which the flanges of the marker stake are telescopically and loosely slid, the extension member having a plurality of centrally located holes therethrough longitudinally spaced therealong and alignable with the stake holes and being substantially the length of the above ground portion of the marker stake, and at least one bolt through aligned holes in the stake and extension secured in place, whereby the bolt may be removed and the extension member may be slid telescopically along the marker stake and again secured in position projecting upward of the marker stake by the bolt for indicating the position of the marker stake during times of deep snow and free of said marker secured to the channel portion of the stake and said bolt projecting into the channel, or said extension may be telescopically slid downward to the ground and secured for insitu storage and protection along the stake. 